South news briefs: Hearing set on Shakopee subsidy for new jobs

Hearing set on city subsidy for new jobsShakopee's City Council is offering folks a chance to weigh in on a tax subsidy deal that could help bring hundreds of jobs to the long-abandoned ADC building in the city's industrial park, south of County Road 101 and east of Valley Park Drive.

St. Louis-based Emerson Process Management is eyeing the 60-acre site for an engineering and manufacturing plant and seeking $6 million in aid from the city, county and state. The city would refund the increase in property taxes caused by the property's increase in value for a set period of time.

The public hearing is scheduled for 7 p.m. Tuesday in the council chambers, 129 Holmes St. S.

Stop! Don't saw down that tree!There's a $500 fine for every inch in diameter of a tree that's removed in Shakopee for the next few months. Or at least some trees.

The moratorium, which took effect Jan. 31, applies only to parcels of an acre or more whose owners wipe out at least 10 percent of the "significant" trees -- a pine tree 12 feet or more or a leafy tree that's at least 6 inches in diameter at a person's chest height.

The 180-day pause gives the city a chance to go over its tree rules for the future. Right now, tree conservation rules apply only in certain limited situations; city staff members will investigate whether to expand those rules.

See, discuss film on aftermath of warA documentary movie on warriors who survive the war itself but struggle afterward is to be screened and discussed next week at Inver Hills Community College.

The screening and discussion will take place Tuesday from 1 to 2:50 p.m. in room 290 of the College Center building. The event is presented by the college's Yellow Ribbon Committee, supporting service members and families.

More on the film is at www. souvenirsdocumentary.com.

Firefighters' new ride arrivesFarmington's new fire engine has arrived from Wisconsin.

The 2013 Pierce Impel Pumper Fire Engine was driven from Appleton, Wis., where it was built by Pierce Manufacturing with occasional oversight by Farmington firefighters. The $587,000 truck arrived Jan. 30 and replaces a 1986 Ford rescue truck.

The pumper can carry 750 gallons of water and pump 2,000 gallons per minute.

The 125-year-old fire department has 52 paid on-call firefighters and serves about 25,000 people in 88 square miles in the city and neighboring townships of Castle Rock, Empire and Eureka.

'Winter Extravaganza' set for McColl PondA Winter Extravaganza is coming up this month, thanks to Savage Recreation.

The event runs from 1 to 3 p.m. Feb. 23 at the McColl Pond Environmental Learning and Event Center, 13550 Dakota Av. S.

Activities include:

• Snowshoe hikes around McColl Pond.

• Crafts and other activities inside.

It's free and there's no need to register, but wear boots if you want to snowshoe.